Sarah Pulliam Bailey: Shift right may inspire the 'religious left'

Several hot-button issues — including immigration, abortion, poverty, health care, education and religious freedom — will put religion near the center of public life.

Observers are watching how Donald Trump’s relationship with Muslims in the United States and abroad will unfold, after he campaigned on a pledge to ban Muslim immigrants. Will he deliver on his promises to evangelicals? With reports of rising incidents of Islamophobia and anti-Semitism during the 2016 campaign, activists will need to ramp up their efforts to counter bigotry.

Republicans will control the presidency and both houses of Congress. That could bring more focus on religious freedom bills in 2017, setting off more debate over how the government can — or can’t — force faith organizations to handle gay rights and access to contraception and abortion for employees. Meanwhile, many religiously motivated activists will be tracking changes to the Supreme Court (as Trump has promised to appoint justices who oppose abortion), and to the possible defunding of Planned Parenthood and overturning of the Affordable Care Act.

A conservative shift could also spur a rise of the “religious left.” For instance, some religious institutions are planning to offer sanctuary to undocumented immigrants. Other organizations may undertake their own acts of resistance — dozens of religious leaders, for instance, have already signed onto an open letter vowing to organize against bigotry in the coming years.

Globally, Protestant Christians are expected to celebrate the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s “95 Theses,” a series of questions for the Catholic Church that are considered the spark for the Protestant Reformation. And Pope Francis is expected to continue to shape a Catholic Church that emphasizes the marginalized.

Sarah Pulliam Bailey is a religion reporter for The Washington Post. This was part of a New Year’s series.